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Carlisle
Productions
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Kit
Car/Replicar/Cobra Nationals,
May 9-11, 1997
Carlisle, Pennsylvania USAby Curt
Scott
Throughout
this feature you'll find hot links (both text links and image
links) to the Web page(s) on KitCar.com or CobraCountry.com where
you'll find more information about that company, car, product,
service or club.
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Even
when the weather strikes out, Carlisle scores a home run!
 Even
the locals (that is to say, northeasterners, midwesterners and
Canadians) couldn't fathom the turn of weather in the area. About
the only things missing from the first two days of the show (Friday
and Saturday, May 9th and 10th) were polar bears and penguins.
This was February weather in mid-May. Bummer. On the other hand,
motorcar enthusiasts--hardy souls that they are--showed up in
remarkably good numbers and high spirits in spite of the adverse
elements. And as a photographer, it was gratifying that the downside
of the cold was offset by the great photographic illumination
of overcast sky. For photographic purposes, bright sunlight bad,
overcast good. Got that? Then on Sunday the weather did a complete
turnaround, with azure-blue skies and real warmth, at least into
the mid-60s (Fahrenheit, that is; the high teens for you Celsius
fans).
I
should point out that the success of this show and my coverage
of it in what started out as cold, blustery Winter weather, can
also be attributed in large part to the professionalism of Carlisle
Productions' staff. I've visited and covered literally hundreds
of carshows over the past twenty years, and I've seldom been
greeted with such unfailing courtesy and professionalism from
a carshow organization... with special credit to both Ms..Kelly
Jones and Jeremy Jenkins of Carlisle Productions, who went Lucas-lightyears
beyond the call of duty to see that I had everything I needed
to cover the show for this feature article.
You'll
find this Carlisle coverage to be a mostly photographic phenomenon,
because (in spite of my dropping and mangling one of my prized
Nikons in the process) I shot over 400 photos at the show, and
it seems logical to share as many of them with you as download
time (and your patience) allows. So begin
your photo tour of the 1997 Carlisle Kit Car/Replicar/Cobra nationals...
1997
Carlisle show: Cobras and GT40s galore
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Above:
ERA
(New Britain, Connecticut) showed up with a booth chock full
of curvaceous Cobras including this red 289FIA, (owner: Jeff
Burgy, Michigan) and this gorgeous green GT40 (owner: James Holden,
New York). |
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B&B
Manufacturing (Granby, Missouri) appeared with a booth full
of their "Turnkey Minus" Cobra replicas (like the red
roadster shown at right), just as it would be delivered to you...
with everything installed but your engine and transmission. |
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Above:
Factory Five Racing (Wareham, Massachusetts, 508-291-3443)
displayed an entire array of their Cobra replicas; at right is
FFR customer Gary Cheney (of New Hampshire) with the plaque he
was awarded for knocking out all competition in the autocross
event on Sunday. |
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Above:
MidStates
(Hooper, Nebraska) filled their booth with Cobras and an array
of happy-camper customers. At right is (West Virginian) Jeff
Malcomb's blue MidStates 427SC. In the left photo, that's Bob
Kallio of MidStates frozen into position in the blue jacket;
Bob's
dad, Lauri, one of the industry's most delightful characters,
turns 80 years old on 20 May 1997... and he still pilots a MidStates
427SC at McMullen/Argus's annual Run and Gun! Lauri's a great guy
and a resounding credit to the industry! You can wish him a happy
birthday by joining him the weekend of June 28th in a weekend
of eating, cruising, test & tune racing, and Cobra talk in
a Western theme; if you can make it, phone MidStates at 402-654-2772. |
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Above:
Contemporary Classic Motor Car Company (Mamaroneck, New York)
and Upstate SuperReplicars (Newtonville, New York) shared a large
booth to display a broad selection of CCMCC Cobra roadsters and
Upstate's marvelous #22 Daytona Coupe. |
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Sabre
Automotive (Stuart, Florida) displayed this impressive GT40 replica
in their booth, along with a fully-decked-out 427SC Sabre chassis. |
Johnex
Motorsports
(Brampton, Ontario, Canada) displayed their Cobra roadsters and
Daytona Coupe replica, and debuted their new "Big Boys"
lineup of cost-saving Cobra replicas. At right is a big-block-equipped
Johnex 289FIA... perhaps the only big-block FIA on the asphalt! |
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RU
Car Crafters
(Sand Springs, Oklahoma, 918-245-1512) had this splendid 427
red roadster (at left) on display. |
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above:
Unique
Motorcars (Gadsden, Alabama, 205-546-3708) displayed an impressive
assortment of the firm's 427SC and 289FIA replicas. At right
above is the engine compartment of Lee Dahmer's Unique Motorcars
427SC. |
the
exoticars
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Above:
Exotic Illusions
(Dickson City, PA) showcased two of their exquisite replicas. |
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Above:
Whitehorse (Flemington, New Jersey, 908-782-5636) also
displayed a brace of fine exoticars. |
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Above:
D&R Replicars (Allentown, Pennsylvania, 610-434-2225).
Low-volume, high-quality producer. The black & gold Countach
on the left is the proud possession of Richard Frick of Allentown,
Pennsylvania. |
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Above:
American Fiberbodies' (Xenia, Ohio, 513-372-5938) exoticar
entry. Euro-Works (Dayton, Ohio, 513-293-6834) also came to the
show with two very nice Countach replicas, but we missed the
opportunity to get photos of their cars. |
...and on the main concourse...
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Spridgetech,
Inc.
Brighton, Michigan, USA
(810) 229-8639
snazzy body conversion/update package for Austin-Healey Sprite
and MG Midget |
Regal
Roadsters Ltd.
utterly dazzling reproduction of Ford's fabulous '55 Thunderbird |
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Rotus
Ltd.
OHC Toyota-powered street-racing machine with strong hints of
Colin Chapman design work. That's Rotus' Dennis Hedges behind
the wheel. |
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Motorsport
High-performance, high-style street/racing machine. Jamie Dunst
driving. |
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J.M.
Design AutoSport
"Paladimo"
Lac Carré, Quebec, Canada
(819) 688-2631
clean body update package for Chevrolet Cavalier 2-door |
PISA
Corporation
"Finale"
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
(602) 376-1550
very nicely done rebody package for the Pontiac Fiero |
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Heritage
Industries
Frazee, Minnesota, USA
reproduction of 1934 Mercedes 500K roadster |
Era
Replica Automobiles
New Britain, Connecticut, USA
(860) 229-7968
This Midnight Blue 427S/C might well have been the very best-decked-out
Cobra at the Carlisle show... a gem in every respect, and displayed
in ERA's booth by its owner Steve Jaques of Greenville, Rhode
Island. |
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